Box mount and grader



June 27, 1950 A. L. MIX

BOX mouu'r AND GRADER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1949 Inventor June 27, 1950 A. L. MIX

BOX MOUNT AND GRADER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 11, 1949 m m I m .u M0 M I M M A Wm m 9 H wk 3 vm N .k em

H m E m t June 27, 1950 A, L, x Y 2,512,805

BOX MOUNT AND GRADER Filed Feb. 11, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 3.

In Ventor 88 Alva L Mix By flmaoih June 27, 1950 A. L. MIX

BOX mourn AND GRADER Filed Feb. 11, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 27, 1950 2,512,805 I BOX MOUNT AND GRADER Alva L. Mix, Bonville, Mo. "Application February 11, 1949, Serial No. 75,786

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE fl This invention relates to new and useful improvements in attachments for tractors.

An object of this invention is to support a tool such as a plow, shovel or others on a tractor by means of an improved structure which includes a pair of spaced sides having means thereon for attachment to a tractor component and guides carried by said sides, arms pivoted at one pair of ends to said sides and passed through said guides whereby upon movement of the arms preferably through the medium of hydraulic cylinders and pistons, the arms are raised and lowered in a guided travel, and including an improved means of actually mounting and supporting the particular tool being used.

Another object of this invention is to rotatively mount the tool by attachment to brackets which are fixed to a rotatable element, the said element being rotatable in a horizontal plane and the said brackets being secured to the arms by means of links having swivel connections at each end so that the entire tool support may be raised and lowered with the arms and so that the tool on the support may be adjusted in a horizontal plane by mere rotation.

A still further object of this invention is to shift the tool support by means of a rod which is rotatively mounted in a beam carried by the said guides, the rod being attached to the above named brackets by'means of a pitman whereby upon rotation of the shaft the entire tool support is shifted laterally.

Another object of this invention is to mount a scraper or other type of tool on the brackets by an adjusting mechanism, said adjusting mechanism also supporting depth gauges whereby the pivotal travel of th said arms is limited in accordance with the adjustment of the depth gauges.

An important feature of the present invention is the wear plates which are disposed on the arms for sliding contact with the confining wallsof the guides.

Another object of this invention is to supply a device of the general class to be described which may be readily attached and detached from a, tractor either of the wheel driven or the endless track type, which attachment may be used for supporting many types of implements or tools, such as the mold board, plow, bucket,

hoist and many others.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art in following the description of a preferred form of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying 4 Claims. (01. 37156) Figure 3 is a front view of the device shown in Figurel'; 1

Figure 4 is a perspective view of'aformof the frame forming the attachment'for atractor;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail of construction showing particularly the guides and arrangement of structural elements connected thereto;

Figure 6 is a-perspectiveview of one ofthe arms attached to the frame sides and passed through the guides;

Figure '7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a depth gauge used in conjunction with and form-- ing a part of the invention, and; a

Figure 8 is a schematic view showing one'p'ossible fluid flow system for use in operation of the device.

The present invention deals with improvements in attachments for use in conjunction with tractors. The embodiment of the invention is a device which may be readily attached and removed from the tractor at will and with a minimum of time and effort. The attachment is used withbest results on one end of the tractor leaving the other end untouched in order that it may'support another type of-implement to serve an entirely different purpose.

The device is to be composed of rather heavy structural elements for large scale use but :may be made relatively light in weight and small in size when it is adapted foruse in connection with light equipment.

Generally, one who has use for a tractor has use for certain types of implements. Otherwise spoken, the mere purchase of a tractor is usually insignificant unless attachments peculiar to various types of operations are purchased. For farming purposes plows, harrows, etc. are generally required. In grading streets, terraces, etc. other types of implements are used. But,-all.of these implements must be attached by one means or another to the tractor. The present invention provides a device for the purpose of facilitating the attachment and removal of the above named implements as well as many others including hoists, drag line buckets, shovels and the like. 'Once the attachment is placed onatractor it need be removed seldom if ever. Simply the removal of certain of the operative elements of the attachment need be effected in order to convertfrom one type of tool holder to a device capable of supporting another type of tool.

A tractor generally indicated at I0 is illustrated and is of-the endless tread type. The tractor includes all of the necessary elements for rendering the operation thereof possible such as an engine, body and chassis, wheels and the other necessary elements which are unshown. Mounted at "one end of this tractor is the attachment. The said attachment includesa pair of sides l2 and 14 respectively which for the purposes-of :illustrae ening members 26 and 28 to serve the purpose of attaching to fasteners which are carried by the tractor. They also serve the secondary purpose 7 substantially parallel relationship.

A pair of guides 39 and 32 respectivelyarefixed;

to the sides I2 and I4 by any'suitable means such as welding, brazingor the like. These guides are composed of a pair of spaced plates34 and; 36 fixed to a tube 38,- and a structural member .40 respectively. A cross member 42 is attached to the'top of each guide 30 and 32 for maintaining them in substantially vertical fixed position. A bottom cross member 44 extends across the lower ends of the framing structural members '30 and 46.-respectively. v

A substantially horizontal beam 50 isattached to the framing members 40 and lfi. This beam is composed .of' apair of divergent structural members and has braces 52 and 5.4 respectively attached' at the. point of convergency to the said framingstructural members 40 and 46 spaced from the junction of the divergent members and the saidstructural framing members 40- and 46. A fish plate50 is disposed in the apex of the divergent members and has a shaft 60 mounted for rotation therein. This shaft has a wheel 62 at one end for a purpose of rotating the shaft 50 thereby rotating the rod 64 which is attached at the-other end of the shaft. Means is provided for maintaining the shaft in selected positions of rotation such as the aperture and pin mechanism 63 thereby maintaining the rod'in selected positions. v

Across memberGIi is carried by the sides I2 and I4 and! has itsends extending through bearings 68 on the sides I2 and I4. The ends thereof are used for the purpose of pivotally mounting a pair of cylinders to be described subsequently.

Hinge members I0. are also: disposed on the outer surfaces of thesides: I2 and I4 respectively for the purpose of pivoting the endsoiarms (Fig-,- ure 6) which are used insupportingandoperating the tool support.

A pair of cylinders I2 and I4 respectively are mounted for pivotal movement on the ends of the member, 66- (Figure 2.) and have pistons with piston rods I6 and I8 respectively extending therefrom. Combination inlet and outlet tubes 80*and82 respectively terminate in a suitable valve 84' whichis mounted in any convenientlocation either on the attachment or on the tractor. One type of valve is illustrated in Figure 8 howevergby the.- expeditious choice of different types of, valves various operations will be. attributed to the arms. A four-way valve 84' is illustrated whereby the arms may be pivotallyraised, lowered or fixed in a selected position. With other types. of valves other operations, such; as a floating position ofthe, arms, may be obtained..

Noting'F'igure 6-, a specific type of armis used in conjunction with the attachment. This arm includes a bar 88-which has a hinge member-.88 atone end thereof adapted to be usedin conjunction with the: hinge member 10-. A hinge pin simply passes through the appropriate places; in both of. these elements thereby: :mounting the. arm

shown in Figure 6 for pivotal movement. A substantially U-shaped member is disposed intermediate the ends of the arm and is fixed thereto by any suitable manner such as welding, brazing or the like An i nvertediU1-shaped member 02 is disposed within the sides of the U-shaped member 90 and has a cut-out 94 therein. By the util- "ity of the cut-out a recess is provided which accommodates the end of the piston rod. A hinge pin passes through the apertures 96 provided in the U-shaped members 90 and 92 in order to pivotally mountthe piston rod.

A' toolsupport is provided for the purpose of holding one of the previously mentioned tools such as the mold board 38 which may be supplied with scraperdisks I00 at one or both end thereof, this being optional equipment. The tool support consists of apair ofbrackets I02 and I04 respectively. which have. diverging end portions with a cross-member-Iilfi extending thereacross. The opposite ends of brackets I02 and Hi l are bent downwardly (Figure 2) and terminate in a ball attached toa shank I08. This ball is received in a socket, which'sockethas a forked member IID associated therewith, forming a part of a universal joint H2 which in turn attaches to the drawbar; N4 of a conventional tractor.

Plates IIG and IIS. respectively have an inner ring I20 fixed thereto and an outer ring I22 is rotatablethereon, These rings may be held in selected positions, ofrotation with respect to each other by any suitable conventional means. Curved brackets I24 and J26 extend from the outer ringandhave parallel bars I28 and I30 fixed to the ends thereof. The said parallel bars I28 and I39 have.,means carried thereby for the purposeof releasablymaintaining-a toolsuch as the mold; board ilfl suspended. This last named means consistsof a pair of vcurved brackets I32 and I34 respectively havingv slots therein. Bolts pass through-the slctsfastening the curved brackets132'and134 thereto in selected adjusted positions. The ends ofthe curved members I32 and I341: are secured to the mold board 98 for movement therewith about the bar I23 as an axis. Accordingly, selectedadjusted positions of angularity of the mold board 98 may be-obtained.

Depth gauges are carried by brackets I00 and I42 respectively which are in turnsupported ultimately by the curved brackets I24 and I 26 respectively: The brackets I40 and I42 have a lowerpair ofears, I46 extending therefrom and an upper'pair of slottedcurvedmembers I58 extending therefrom.

Depth gauges aresupported in. each bracket I40 and; I42. respectively. The structure of the depth gauges isshown best in Figure 7 and includes an outer housing I50 having, a lower pair of trunnions I152 extending therefrom and an upper pair, of trunnions I54 extending therefrom.. Theupper trunnions are disposed in the curved. slotted members I48, while the lower trunnions are mounted for pivotal movement in the ears I46;-

Mounted for sliding and .rotative movement through the housing I50:--is a-plunger rod I56 which. has fi' diSh-1lk8 foot I50 at the lower end thereof adaptedto-engage the ground.

A collar IE0 is threadedly disposed in the lower endof-the-= housing I50 and has the rod passed therethrough. A stop ;IB2 is fixed adjustably on the rod I56 by means of a set screw I64.

A spring I66 is provided for constantly urging the-stop- I62' against the; collar I60 through the medium of a wear plate I61. This spring reacts on the top of the housing and the wear plate I61 which is disposed on the stop 162.

In view of the foregoing it is seen that the mold board 98 may be adjusted in the tool support and the depth gauge has two adjustments pertinent thereto. The first is adjustment as to actual depth, while the second is the pivotal movement obtained in its mounting. In order that access may be had to the set screw I6 1, an opening 166 is provided in one of the walls of the housing as disclosed in Figure 7.

The flexible hitch shown best at H0, H2 and H4 as well as 108 in Figure 1 assists in stabilizing and controlling the depth of cut taken by the mold board 98, in conjunction with the spring loaded shoes or feet 158. The rear end of the tractor raises after the balance point of the tractor passes over a mound of dirt or other obstacle. This is particularly true in the crawler-type tractor as disclosed.

As the rear end of the tractor I0 raises there is a tendency for the grader to be raised. Hence, the depth of cut taken would ordinarily be lessened, causing a variation in grade. The flexible hitch including universal joint H2 allows this difiiculty to be partially corrected by flexing upwardly as the rear of the tractor is moved up, as when the tractor has gone over a mound far enough so that the tractor'balance point is in front of the mound. This upward movement of the hitch causes the drawbar of the grader to be raised which in turn permits gravity lowering of the mold board due to the rolling action of the ball and socket joint incorporated in the hitch.

If the rear end of the tractor is lowered as when the tractor initially climbs on a mound, the operation is simply reversed that is, the hitch is flexed downwardly allowing a corrective upward movement of the mold board. The spring loaded shoes or feet assist in controlling the action of the flexible hitch.

Each of the arms has a ball I fixed to the end thereof opposite the hinge member 88. This ball is disposed in a socket 112 (Figure 2) at the end of a link 114. An identical structure is provided for the other arm as disclosed in Figure 1. At the lower end of the link I14 there is another socket I16 having another ball (unnumbered) disposed therein which is carried by one of the diverging brackets I02. Accordingly, when each arm is raised or lowered the diverging brackets I02 and 103 are also raised and lowered. This movement is in turn reflected into raising and lowering movement of the mold board 98.

Means for shifting the entire tool support in a lateral horizontal direction is provided. A portion of this means has already been described. The remainder consists of a pitman I18 (Figures 2 and 3) which is connected to the cross member I06 at one end and to the ball I80 at the end of the rod 64. Hence the arms are attached to the divergent brackets by swivel connections and the beam 50 supports the means for laterally shifting the tool support also by means of swivel connections.

When the arms are operated by the pistons it is apparent that the arms would ordinarily scrape against the confining walls of the guides 30 and 32. However, in order that a smooth even operation is obtained, wear plates I90 are attached to the outside surfaces of the substantially U- shaped members 90 on each arm.

It is apparent that variations may be made and additions may be made such as the use of 1 a number of strengthening braces as at 198 may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a tractor including a body and chassis structure, and a, drawbar, an attachment for carrying tools comprising a frame which includes a pair of spaced sides having means for attachment to said structure, vertical guides secured to said sides, arms pivoted at one pair of ends to said sides and passed through said guides, means pivoted to said arms intermediate their ends and to said sides for pivotally actuating said arms, a tool support, links attached to the opposite pair of ends of said arms and to said tool support by swivel connections, and means secured to said tool support for attaching said tool support to the drawbar, a beam carried by said frame, a rod mounted for rotation on said beam, and a pitman connecting said rod and said tool support.

2. The combination of claim 1 and a scraper, means carried by said tool support adjustably attachin said scraper to said toolv support, and a depth gauge carried by said last mentioned means.

3. An attachment for a tractor comprising a frame having a pair of sides, vertical guides carried by said sides, and a cross member secured to said guides, arms pivoted to said sides and passed through said guides, wear plates secured to said arms contacting said guides, a beam extending from said cross member and having a rod rotatively carried thereby, a tool support including a. rotatable member with brackets attached thereto, links attached to said brackets and said arms and a pitman connecting said beam and one of said brackets whereby upon rotation of said rod said tool support is shifted, and means carried by said sides and said arms i'or raising and lowering said arms thereby operating said tool support.

4. An attachment for a tractor comprising a frame having a pair of sides, vertical guides carried by said sides, and a cross member secured to said guides, arms pivoted to said sides and passed through said guides, wear plates secured to said arms contacting said guides, a beam extending from said cross member and having a rod rotatively carried thereby, a tool support including a rotatable member with brackets attached thereto, links attached to said brackets and said arms and a pitman connecting said beam and one of said brackets whereby upon rotation of said rod said tool support is shifted, and means carried by said sides and said arms for raising and lowering said arms thereby operating said tool support, a universal joint secured to said brackets adpated to be fixed to a tractor, and adjustable means carried by said brackets for retaining a tool.

ALVA L. MIX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,773,254 Becker Aug. 19, 1930 1,961,011 Pearson May 29, 1934 1,997,001 Lamb April 9, 1935 2,190,346 Austin Feb. 13, 1940 2,256,273 Begley Sept. 16, 1941 

